Forum held to Fayette County’s Treatment Court program
Panelist Clinton Anderson, mental health program manager of Fayette County Behavioral Health Administration, talks about Fayette County’s Treatment Court program during Tuesday’s “CSI: Fayette County — Crime Subjects Investigated” forum, sponsored by the HeraldStandard.com at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Ed Cope
Members of the audience listen to panelists during Tuesday's Fayette CSI forum held at Penn State Fayette The Eberly Campus. The program was sponsored by HeraldStandard.com in cooperation with the campus.
Having a treatment option for people in the court system who are dealing with mental health issues can help cut down on repeat offenses and keep non-violent offenders out of overcrowded prisons.
Experts who spoke at Tuesday’s “CSI: Fayette County – Crime Subjects Investigated” forum to discuss the county’s treatment court system and the way mental health patients who commit crimes are treated said it’s important people with mental illnesses are given the help they need to prevent ongoing problems from occurring.
The forum was sponsored by HeraldStandard.com in conjunction with Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, which is now offering a forensic psychology program at the campus through the school’s administration of justice program.
Fayette County’s Treatment Court program is designed for criminal defendants with mental illnesses and is run through the Fayette County Behavioral Health Administration and various members of the court system.
Fayette County District Attorney Jack R. Heneks Jr. said Treatment Court is a critical part of the court system.
“I believe it’s essential for a variety of reasons that we have this type of court in the county at this time,” Heneks said.
Treatment Court gives people who are diagnosed with a mental illness an opportunity to seek extensive treatment while often serving probation for their offense.
Heneks said that criminal records and the type of crime committed is taken into consideration before Treatment Court is offered as a option.
And, Heneks said it’s more cost effective to have nonviolent offenders who are in need of help go through an effective therapy program than it is to keep them in prison.
Clinton Anderson, a mental health program manager for the Fayette County Behavioral Health Administration, said people who go through Treatment Court receive therapy and that their progress is closely monitored.
From a defense perspective, Treatment Court is a better option than serving jail time but is not by any means a light sentence.
“It’s not a get out of free jail card,” said defense attorney Jeremy Davis of Davis & Davis Attorneys at Law.
Dr. Richard Ball, a professor in Penn State’s administration of justice program, said there has been an increase in crimes committed by those with mental health issues and that the mental health issues need to be addressed if there is to be a reduction in those types of crimes.
“You’ve got to hold people accountable but you don’t want to make the problem worse,” he said.
Other speakers included Seth Vargo, supervisor of the forensic and diversion re-entry program for Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Human Service; Leroy Townsend, pre-trial services officer for the Fayette County Adult Probation Office; Jacquie Fritts, executive director of the Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County; and state police Lt. David Heckman, station commander of the Uniontown barracks.
HeraldStandard.com Executive Editor Mark O’Keefe moderated the panel discussion. The entire forum can be viewed by going to the HeraldStandard.com website.